What would you change if you could?

I would make the "bean counters" in administration come work ONE shift at the pace we work. Then, I would make them held accountable when there was a team going on and no aides to take someone to the bathroom.

I work in Long Term Care, two things...more CNAs and better pay for them. They are the lifeline in my facility and don't get paid nearly enough for what they do.

I don't have enough time to type what I would change, but I would love to have someone "really" cover my shift so I could go to lunch or the bathroom.

I'd ditch all the bureaucratic crapola that robs time needed to care for pts.

Wow, I haven't got that much time or initiative to type ALL that, lol!

But, like Shay said, I believe the same people that just announced "no more OT" (read: "finish EVERYTHING by the last minute of your shift", ROFL) should be required to spend THREE full shifts doing what we do. Not just one, because that could backfire if the stars crossed paths and it was a low census, or whatever. And they'd know it was only one day. Nope, THREE 12's, so they'd know the same crap they left would be waiting for them when they returned, and they'd not had enough sleep to deal with the next day. Staffed just the way they normally are, no extra help whatsoever, have them treated exactly like staff RNs, and accountable for everything we are.

That oughta cure a whole LOTTA ills in our system

Wow, I haven't got that much time or initiative to type ALL that, lol!

But, like Shay said, I believe the same people that just announced "no more OT" (read: "finish EVERYTHING by the last minute of your shift", ROFL) should be required to spend THREE full shifts doing what we do. Not just one, because that could backfire if the stars crossed paths and it was a low census, or whatever. And they'd know it was only one day. Nope, THREE 12's, so they'd know the same crap they left would be waiting for them when they returned, and they'd not had enough sleep to deal with the next day. Staffed just the way they normally are, no extra help whatsoever, have them treated exactly like staff RNs, and accountable for everything we are.

That oughta cure a whole LOTTA ills in our system

What a brillant idea! It always killed me the few times we were so short staffed on our floor, that every unit had higher than normal ratios, no charge nurses, etc...and the director would go home during days to take a nap so she could come back during nights and help out...then she would call "i'm too tired to come in" What??? Can I call in "too tired"??

i know that the way nurses are treated needs to be changed.

hospitals need to support their nurses, make them feel appreciated. whether it's a short staffing issue, family complaint, or the nurse needing time off. i know when i did hospital work, i always felt like it was a losing battle.

it seems that no matter what situation occurs, the nurse is always wrong:confused: . it doesn't take much to show a little appreciation for the hard work we do and it sure helps with staff retention too.

i could type a whole list of what's wrong!

If there was anything in the hospital that you could change, what would it be? Systems, protocols, shortages, communication?

What would it be and how would you do it?

every rn would have their own cna.

Have each patient taken care of as if it were the CEO of the hospitals mother. MOre staff, more help, less stress.

I would get rid of costomer satisfaction as the number one goal and go back to the thought of doing things that need to be done for the good of the paitent. To much concern about pt complaints to survays ect. hinders a nurse from giving proper care to the non complient pt.

example: Mr. Jones it is time to get up and walk so we can get that gas moving.

Mr. Jones: get the hell out of here I am to sore.

Nurse: That tone will not fly Mr. Jones, you have to get up...

Note to nurse manager: nurse was rude and would not honor my wishes

Nurse Manager: God my customer service score is going to drop, I need to write up the nurse.